A Papatoetoe preschool has been forced to close because of a marauding dog, writes Sharu Delilkan. Papatoetoe resident Ann Bennett is being forced to close her preschool after 21 years because of worries about safety. The 51-year-old, who's lived in the suburb all her life, says she has no choice
but to move out of Papatoetoe because she doesn't feel safe walking her 9-year-old dog Timba. ``We've been attacked twice this year by the same neighbourhood dog - I've basically had enough.'' One of her neighbours, Joanne Tehiga, says she witnessed Ann's encounter in May when she had to ``wrestle the other dog to the ground to prise its jaws off Timba. ``The dog proceeded to attack her - she had puncture wounds on her knee and scratches on her hands.'' Ann initially opened Ann's Preschool when her then-young son developed epilepsy. ``We even stuck it out despite the Ministry's rules becoming more stringent. The repeated [dog] attacks were the straw that broke the camel's back.'' Despite plans to shut down, she is still sticking to tradition, working on the annual concert and the float for Papatoetoe's Santa Parade. Ann says she was extremely nervous about breaking the news to the parents. ``I'm definitely going to miss them [the children] - they're an awesome age group,'' says Ann. One of the parents, Jill Kozyniak, says she was shocked when Ann made the announcement. ``It will be a great loss to the community - especially the mothers.'' Another mother, Glenys Bell, who has three grandchildren enrolled at the preschool, says Ann will be sorely missed. ``The kids love the fact that she has a different programme lined up for them daily. ``If she opens another preschool, we'll definitely take our grandchildren there.'' Ann's Preschool will close its doors on December 20.
